Folding box.



e. DIECKIIIAIIIIIv FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I4. 1914.

1,156,673, Patented 001;. 12, 1915.

IN VEN'IOR marian sraras Parana carros.

leUs'rAv niacin/faim, or saivranivcrsco, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING B0X.

To all 'whom t may concern: Y y Y Be it known that I, GUs'rAv DIEGKMANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements inV `Folding Boxes, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to a folding boX or crate for the transportation of eggs, fruits, vegetables and the like. Y

VThe principal object of the invention is to provide a bOXV of the class described of simple and durable construction which, when emptied of its contents, may be quickly and easily folded in small v compass for return shipment. n Y, l

Another object of the invention is topprovide a space between the folding sections and lbottoni ofthe box in which such-parts as coverv sections, ller parts, and the like, may

be placed for return shipment ;l and to provide means` for automatically retaining the folded sections `in closed position `when folded. v

Another object of theinvention is to provide a `simple formfof retaining means for securing the parts together in the erectedV position which cannot possibly be injured or displacedduring shipment in either direction.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more .fully ldescribed and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in'whichl AFigure 1 is a perspective view of the folding boX. Fig. 2 is a cross section of same, showing the end and side sections in the folded position. Fig. 3 is a detail section, showing one of the lretaining latches. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latch housing. Fig. 5 is a `detail cross section of a side and end section, showing the tongue and groove construction. Y I

The bottom A' of the boX is. preferably solid and has secured thereto stationary end sections 2 and 3 and side sections 4 and 5 of similarnature `The end sections2 and 3 are of equal height, while the height of the side sections 4 and 5 varies for purposes hereinafter to be described.

. Specification of' Letters atent. v j 'Patented Oct. 12,1915, Application 1ed .Tuly 14, 1914.' Serial No. 850,926. Y i

.2fvtr and 3a are foldable end sections which are secured tothe sections 2` and 3 by hinges 6, and 4a andoa are .foldable .side sections which are secured to the sections 4 and 5 b y hinges 7. The outer ends' of the foldable side sections are provided with tongues or projections 8 which are adapted to project into grooves 9 formed'` on the sides of the foldable ,endsections. `The tonguel land groove 4construction provided serves! as `a means for holding the several sections in perfect alinement, and,k furthermore, relieves l the securing latches, hereinafter to bedescribed, fromrlateral thrustor side play.

The' securing latches are constructed. and

applied in the following manner: The outer corners of the end sections are first beveled off, as shown at 10,.Fig. 3, a spring catch A11 is then applied. and secured by'a screw 12. A channel shaped. bracket or reinforcing member 13 is then placed overthe spring latchandv secured in position by means of screws or nails 1,4. The channelQshaped member 13 is provided as a housing fortheA latch to protect it from possible knocks and injury landalso supports it against anyside strains to which it might, be submitted.

15 is a latch, and this is secured4 by screws 16 to the side panels, as shown in Figs. 1

and 3. The inner end of the latch is downwardly turned, as at 17, and is thus in position to be thrown into engagement with the catch 1,1. By referring to Fig-3, it will be j seen that the hook end 17 of the latch 15 does not projectJ beyond the tongue projection 8 `formed on the` side'. This is of great importance as it. would ,otherwiseA be subject tonjury for scribed. y

Secured atone end, as at 18, in the sta-l reasons hereinafter to bedev 90 l tionary side sections 4 and 5'are springs 19,

the Vother ends of which are secured, as at 20, inthe foldable sideisections 4a and 5a. action of these springs lwill be as follows: When folding the boX for returnshipment, it is only necessary to depress the catches 11; openings 13a being l formed Vin the latch housing through which `the ngers'are inserted for this purpose'.A Depression of the catches llvreleases the hooked ends ofthe The f latches 15 and will, therefore, permit the side sections to be moved out of engagement with the end sections 2a and Ada. The end sections are then folded inwardly in the direction of arrows a and the side sections 4a and 5PL may then be released and Will be automatically folded by the action of the holds the hook ends of the latches 15 out of engagement vvith any surface. i They thusy protected against injliry and, being turned inwardly, as sho'itn', aiefnrtherinore prevented frein catching *or hooking into the other articles `vvith `which they inay be in Contact. Y l A y The stationiafy endqsectiohs 2 3 forni a space betyveen the bottoni and the fofda'ble sections, into i'vhich shch partsas sectional envers, tex cuers for eggs, and the like, any be inserted, theY box is folded and' reshipped, and the variation in height between the stationary side sections 4 and 5 is provided for die purpose of permitting the section 5a to assume a straight horizontal position vvith 'relation to t'he foldab'le side section 4a; A rectangiilar or even slraped package is thns secured, tvhen the parte are folded', Whichcan beV easily handled.

The mounting and Constr-neuen ef the 1e- ,ta-ining 'catches 11 prevent 'these jury. `The depth 'of the bevel-'d notch ro permits each catch 11 to be depressed downwardl'y 'only a limited 'dstancdfand this, dis-y tance is so limited that the spring acti'on `of the catch 'anuot poss'bi'y be injured. The housings 13 furthermore prevent the 'spring catches from injury, su'c'h 'as hiight be received from Vbufnps an'd knocks, and alsoV act 'as corner protectors or br'ac'es which 'strengthen the parts. A bex constructed as shoiv'n is siinpl'e and compact in construction and may be quickly folded or erected, yis the case may be, Without any exertionon the .part Aof the shipper. The springs 19 forman automatic means by which the foldable sections 'are held in closed position,

v When folded, and entirely eliminates Y'such applications as ropes or lo'cks 'for holding the .parts together during reshipnient.

Having thus 'described invention, vvhat Iclairn and desire to secure by Letters Patlsiteljv 'disposed ends, vthe body of the rod be# 'ing interposed between the adjacent edges of the rigid and hinged side sections and the said rod ends'being secured to the respective rigid and hinged side sections.

2. In a folding box, hinged side and end sections, an inverted U-shaped bracket secured to the top edge of one section and havn ing a top cut-out part at its center, said top edge of said section being cut-away beneath the top of the bracket, a spring catch beneath the bracket top, and a latch secured to the other section and being engageable beneath the top of the 'bracket and with said catch.

ln a folding box, hinged side and end sections, one of two adjacent sections having a tongue and the other a groove to receive the tongue, a latch on the section having the tongue extending above the tongue bnt being spaced from the outer side face of the tongue so that th'e tongue Will, When its section is folded, hold the latch out of contact-With any part of the box that the tongue engages with, and a catch "on the section having the groove to engage the latch.

4. In a folding box, hinged'side and end sections, v'one of tivo adjacent sections having a tongue and the other a groove to receive th'e tongue, a latch on the section having lthe tongue extending 'above the tongue but being spaced from the outer sidefface of the tongue so 'that the tongue will, vvhe'n its section is folded', hold the latch out ofcontact 'with any part of Vthe box that the tongue engages with, a catch on the section having the groove to engage the latch, and av housing for the catch Which projects'beyondthe latter so as to protect saine.l A A 5. ln a folding box, hinged side and end sections, L-sh'ape'd latchv s'ec'ured'to the outer side face and top edge of one section and having a downturned end which extends on the inner side face 'of s'aid section, the top edge 'of -the 'other adjacent section being beveled', a catch secured to said top edge 'of theother "section and being engageable With said downturned latch end, a honsing extending over the catch and 'secured to the second named section, and a tongue on 'the first 'named section extending` beyond Athe dotvnturned latch endea'nd being receivable in a groove provided therefor in the second named section. Y j

6. In a folding box, hingedv side and end sections, va catch secured to titeJ top edge of one section, a latch disposed on the top edge of lthe adjacent 'section and 'engage'able with the latch, a tongue and groove connection be- 'tweenl said sections the tongue fof Vwhich projects beyond the latch and a housing for the catch Whi'c'h 3projects therebeyond.

7. A Yfolding 'box including hinged sides and ends, a catch borne by one of 'said parts,

u latch borne by the other part und beng In testimony whereof I have hereunto set engageable with the catch, and a tongue and my hand n the presence of two subscribing groove connection between the adjacent side Witnesses.

and end, the tongue extending beyond the Y y GUSTAV DIECKM'ANN. lateh'so that When the parts are folded the Witnesses: 4

tongue Will prevent the latch from contact- JOHN H. HERRING,

ing with any of the parts ofthe box. VV.` W. HEALEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

I Washington, D. C. 

